FHSAA opens investigation of The Villages

Ed Porter of Hawthorne, left, and Isaiah Jackson of Gainesville enrolled at The Villages Charter School in Sumter County.

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By Larry SavageStaff writer

Published: Friday, September 6, 2013 at 2:40 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, September 6, 2013 at 2:40 p.m.

The Villages Charter School was notified Friday by the Florida High School Athletic Association that it is under investigation for the transfers of four basketball players, three formerly of Gainesville High and one from Hawthorne

Gainesville High administrators learned in early July that senior Isaiah Jackson, junior Eric Turner and sophomore Vonte Scott all had withdrawn from school. A week before Alachua County schools opened, Hawthorne basketball coach Greg Bowie received a phone call from Ed Porter who informed him he was transferring to The Villages. The Villages opened school Aug. 8.

GHS filed a complaint with the FHSAA and after an initial review, gave approval to proceed with an investigation. The investigator will look into possible policy violations regarding athletic recruiting, financial assistance and institutional control, according to the FHSAA. He or she will then report back to the organization to determine if policies were indeed violated.

“In the event that we believe eligibility rules have been broken or FHSAA violations have occurred, it is our responsibility to report any facts concerning this to the FHSAA,” said GHS athletic director Cindy Boulware. “Any rulings or decisions made, any research or investigation done is the sole responsibility of that governing organization (FHSAA).''

Jackson, a 6-foot-6 guard/small forward who averaged 16.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists, led the Hurricanes to the Class 6A state semifinals after upset road wins over highly ranked Leesburg and Orlando Edgewater in the state playoffs. Turner, a 6-4 forward who played at Eastside as a freshman, transferred to GHS a year ago and was a key player in the 'Canes' drive to state.

Porter, a 6-6 forward who also played his freshman year at GHS, averaged 19.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks a game for the 28-2 Hornets, who lost to state champion Bonifay Holmes County, led by UF signee Chris Walker, in the 1A state semifinals.

Both Jackson and Porter were runners-up for Florida Dairy Farmers Players of the Year for their classification, and were The Sun's Players of the Year.

During the summer, Jackson and Turner played on Florida Elite Black, a 17-under travel basketball squad that included Lamine Mbodj of St. Francis, Devaughn Jenkins and Austin Harrell of The Rock and Earl Brown of Williston. It also included Lane Munz and Kaleb Sanders of The Villages.

Porter played on Florida Select's 11th-grade travel team. The move was more about academics than athletics, according to his father, Ed Porter Sr., who told The Sun he has a job in The Villages.

The Villages Charter School, which is part of a sprawling retirement community that tops 51,000 and covers portions of Sumter, Marion and Lake counties, are 0-3 in boys basketball playoff games, losing last year to Union County 86-70 in the regional semifinals. This year the Buffalo move up to 4A, District 6.

<p>The Villages Charter School was notified Friday by the Florida High School Athletic Association that it is under investigation for the transfers of four basketball players, three formerly of Gainesville High and one from Hawthorne</p><p> Gainesville High administrators learned in early July that senior Isaiah Jackson, junior Eric Turner and sophomore Vonte Scott all had withdrawn from school. A week before Alachua County schools opened, Hawthorne basketball coach Greg Bowie received a phone call from Ed Porter who informed him he was transferring to The Villages. The Villages opened school Aug. 8.</p><p> GHS filed a complaint with the FHSAA and after an initial review, gave approval to proceed with an investigation. The investigator will look into possible policy violations regarding athletic recruiting, financial assistance and institutional control, according to the FHSAA. He or she will then report back to the organization to determine if policies were indeed violated.</p><p> “In the event that we believe eligibility rules have been broken or FHSAA violations have occurred, it is our responsibility to report any facts concerning this to the FHSAA,” said GHS athletic director Cindy Boulware. “Any rulings or decisions made, any research or investigation done is the sole responsibility of that governing organization (FHSAA).''</p><p> Jackson, a 6-foot-6 guard/small forward who averaged 16.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists, led the Hurricanes to the Class 6A state semifinals after upset road wins over highly ranked Leesburg and Orlando Edgewater in the state playoffs. Turner, a 6-4 forward who played at Eastside as a freshman, transferred to GHS a year ago and was a key player in the 'Canes' drive to state.</p><p> Porter, a 6-6 forward who also played his freshman year at GHS, averaged 19.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks a game for the 28-2 Hornets, who lost to state champion Bonifay Holmes County, led by UF signee Chris Walker, in the 1A state semifinals.</p><p> Both Jackson and Porter were runners-up for Florida Dairy Farmers Players of the Year for their classification, and were The Sun's Players of the Year.</p><p> During the summer, Jackson and Turner played on Florida Elite Black, a 17-under travel basketball squad that included Lamine Mbodj of St. Francis, Devaughn Jenkins and Austin Harrell of The Rock and Earl Brown of Williston. It also included Lane Munz and Kaleb Sanders of The Villages.</p><p> Porter played on Florida Select's 11th-grade travel team. The move was more about academics than athletics, according to his father, Ed Porter Sr., who told The Sun he has a job in The Villages.</p><p> The Villages Charter School, which is part of a sprawling retirement community that tops 51,000 and covers portions of Sumter, Marion and Lake counties, are 0-3 in boys basketball playoff games, losing last year to Union County 86-70 in the regional semifinals. This year the Buffalo move up to 4A, District 6.</p>